Hydration manifold with adjustable check valve

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the apparatus is a personal hydration apparatus comprising a drink manifold with a receptor configured such that a water tight seal can form between a threaded bottle and the receptor. A check valve is coupled to the drink manifold configure to allow air into manifold and a first tube coupled to the manifold that is configured to allow liquid to be drawn from the threaded bottle. The hydration manifold allows an individual the convenience of using a conventional bottle filled with liquid in a hydration system accessible through a hose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For some time people have recognized the need to stay hydrated. Conventionally, many individuals carry drink bottles that contain water or other potable beverages. These bottles are formed from plastic and include a cap. Some conventional drink bottles include a threaded or other neck from which a user drinks fluid contained in the drink bottle after removal of the cap. Additionally, many individuals use water bladders with a bite activated mouth piece. The bladders are usually only filled with water. The bladders are connected to the bite actuated mouthpiece by a hose.

Flexible bladders are usually only filled with water because of the difficulty in cleaning. Flexible bladders cannot hold hot liquids because the thin plastic can melt. Flexible bladders are difficult to fill and cannot be purchased full of liquid. The hydration manifold provides a system that allows a variety of hot and cold drinks to be accessed with a hose and bite activated mouth piece. Additionally, the hydration manifold allows the liquid to be placed in bottles which can be filled by an individual or purchased full of liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of a system are described. In one embodiment, the system is a personal hydration system comprising: a drink manifold with a receptor. The receptor is configured such that a water tight seal can form between a bottle and the receptor. A check valve connected to the drink manifold configure to allow air into manifold and a tube connected to the manifold that is configured to allow liquid to be drawn from the bottle. Other embodiments of the system are also described.

Embodiments of an apparatus are also described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a personal hydration apparatus comprising a drink manifold with a receptor configured such that a water tight seal can form between a threaded bottle and the receptor. A check valve is coupled to the drink manifold configure to allow air into manifold and a first tube coupled to the manifold that is configured to allow liquid to be drawn from the threaded bottle. Other embodiments of the apparatus are also described.

Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrated by way of example of the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the hydration manifold.

FIG. 2 depicts top view of the hydration manifold.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the hydration manifold.

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the hydration manifold.

FIG. 5 depicts the hydration manifold apparatus.

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the flow divider apparatus.

FIG. 7 depicts a side view of the flow divider apparatus.

FIG. 8 depicts a top view of the flow divider apparatus.

FIG. 9 depicts the hydration manifold with the flow divider apparatus inside.

FIG. 10 depicts the adjustable check valve.

Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the hydration manifold. Hydration manifold 4 includes receptor 8 and hose barb 12 and hose barb 16. Receptor 8 is configured to allow a bottle filled with liquid to be connected with a water tight seal.

In one embodiment the connection is threaded. Adaptor 20 is configured to form a water tight seal with receptor 8. Barbs 12 and 16 can be connected to a hose forming a water tight seal. In one embodiment receptor 8 and barbs 12 and 16 are all connected in manifold 4 and allow a liquid to flow through the manifold.

Manifold 4 can be made of any non corrodible material including plastics, aluminum, stainless steel, or any other suitable material. Receptor 8 can form any type of seal with a bottle including being threaded, gasket, compression seal, or any other seal that will form a water tight connection. Barbs 12 and 16 can be configured to form any suitable water tight connection with a hose. This includes clamps, barbs, sealant, adhesive, or any type of connection that forms a water tight seal.

Adaptor 20 can be configured to seal to a smaller bottle opening than receptor 8 by being placed inside receptor 8. Adaptor 20 can also be configured to form a seal with a larger bottle opening (see 40 FIG. 5). Adaptor 40 can also be configured to allow multiple bottles to be connected to manifold 4. A shut off valve would be used to allows an individual to turn off the supply from either bottle (see 44 FIG. 5). Any suitable valve could be used such as a ball valve.

FIG. 2 depicts top view of the hydration manifold.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the hydration manifold.

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the hydration manifold.

FIG. 5 depicts the hydration manifold apparatus. Hose 20 is connected to barb 16 and check valve 24. Check valve 24 is configures to allow air into the manifold when when liquid is removed from bottle 36. Hose 28 is connected to barb 12 and bite valve 32. Bite valve 32 is typical of hydration systems and operates to allow liquid though the tube with an individual bites the valve and creates a vacuum in hose 28.

Hoses 20 and 28 can be made of any suitable material such as plastic. Check valve 24 can be any small check valve that open to allow air when a negative pressure is created. Bite valve 32 can be in type of valve or can be omitted from the system. The check valve 24 can be set to prevent water from exiting from tube 28 by a small amount of negative pressure maintained in the system. An individual can create enough negative pressure to open check valve 24 by sucking on tube 28.

Adaptor 40 is configured to allow a water bottle with a larger opening to attach with a water tight seal to receptor 8. Adaptor 44 is configured to allows multiple bottles to attach to manifold 4. In one embodiment the adaptor 44 allows the bottles to attached at an angle so large bottles can be connected to the manifold.

In one embodiment an individual connects a bottle filled with liquid to receptor 8. The individual then draws fluid from the bottle through bite valve 32. Check valve 24 allows air into the manifold to fill the space created by removing the liquid. After all of the liquid has been consumed from the bottle 36, bottle 36 can be refilled or a new bottle can attached to receptor 8.

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the flow divider apparatus 48. Wall divider 60 has a top edge 52 and a bottom edge 56. Bottom edge 56 is rounded to fit into the rounded bottom of manifold 4. Tube 50 encloses wall 60 creating two chambers.

FIG. 7 depicts a side view of the flow divider apparatus 48.

FIG. 8 depicts a top view of the flow divider apparatus 48.

FIG. 9 depicts the hydration manifold 4 with the flow divider 48 inside. Flow divider apparatus 48 is inserted into hydration manifold 4 through receptor 8. Wall divider 60 is placed perpendicular to hydration manifold 4. When negative pressure is applied to bite valve 32, air will flow through check valve 24 into bottle 36. The liquid in bottle 36 will flow into bite valve 32. Flow divider 48 prevents air from flowing into bite valve 32 until after bottle 36 is empty. This assures the user will not get a mouthful of air when using the hydration manifold 4.

FIG. 10 depicts the adjustable check valve. The adjustable check valve 70 can be used in place of check valve 24. Jam nut 74 is threaded onto core 82 and holds barrel 78 in place. Interior o-ring 86 fits on the end of core 82 to form a seal with barrel 78. Disc 90 is pressed into the bottom of core 82 by plunger 94 and spring 98 and forms a seal on the core 82. Core 82 is inserted into base 102 and threaded into place. Exterior o-ring 106 provides an seal when the adjustable check valve 24 is threaded into the manifold.

Adjustable check valve 70 allows the user to adjust the cracking pressure of disc 90. The is accomplished by rotating barrel 78 to change the tension in the spring 98. The adjustable check valve 70 allows the user of the hydration manifold to adjust the suction pressure required to draw liquid from the manifold. The hydration manifold can be customized to individual user suction preferences.

Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal hydration apparatus comprising: a drink manifold with a receptor configured such that a water tight seal can form between a threaded bottle and the receptor; an adjustable check valve coupled to the drink manifold configure to allow air into manifold; and a first tube coupled to the manifold that is configured to allow liquid to be drawn from the threaded bottle.
 2. The personal hydration apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threaded bottle is configures to hold a hot liquid.
 3. The personal hydration apparatus of claim 1 wherein the check valve is coupled to the manifold by a second tube.
 4. The personal hydration apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adaptor that fits water tight into the receptor configured to allow different screw threads.
 5. The personal hydration apparatus of claim 1 wherein the person hydration apparatus is light enough to be carried by an individual.
 6. A personal hydration system comprising: a drink manifold with a receptor configured such that a water tight seal can form between a bottle and the receptor; an adjustable check valve connected to the drink manifold configure to allow air into manifold; a tube connected to the manifold that is configured to allow liquid to be drawn from the bottle; and a wall divider inserted in the receptor configured to prevent air from the check valve from entering the tub. 